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GOA
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GOA, TUESDAY, 13 JULY, 2010
Sessions court reserves orders on Mickky’s bail application HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 12
The South Goa Sessions Court has reserved its orders to Tuesday on the bail application filed by former Tourism Minister Mickky Pacheco in the Nadia Torrado death case. Arguments on Pacheco’s bail application were heard before Additional Sessions Judge B P Deshpande. While Pacheco’s legal counsel Adv Surendra Desai have prayed for bail saying that nothing has come on record showing the involvement of the former Minister in Nadia’s death, the prosecution submitted that Pacheco is further required in custody to recover Nadia’s two mobile phones, passport and the ratol tube. Public prosecutor Sarojini Sardinha said the investigating agency could not fully utilise the remand period to interrogate the former minister since sleuths have to either take him for medical examination to the GMC or were busy with Pacheco’s bail applications. Sardinha said the former minister has not been cooperating with the investigations on grounds of his ill health. While opposing the bail plea, the prosecution said the former minister is released on bail may exercise fear in the minds of the witnesses, adding there’s a strong possibility of tampering with evidence. The prosecution said that Nadia’s missing mobiles, laptop, passport and ratol tube, besides the weapon of assault are yet to be recovered by the agency.
Saying there is every possibility of further destruction of evidence, the prosecution maintained that statements of more witnesses remains to be recorded, adding that the investigating agency need to instill confidence in the minds of innocent people to come out of fear to give their statements. The prosecution said the custodial interrogation of the accused is further required as the former minister has played a major role in the personal affairs and life of the deceased in her medical treatment, due to which her family is under his obligations and area not whispering anything against him and not cooperating with the agency. “Custodial interrogation of the accused is of prime importance to recover the two mobiles, one
passport, laptop and the weapon of assault”, Sardinha added. On the other hand, Pacheco’s legal counsel, Adv Surendra Desai said the investigation agency has till date not made out any case against the accused in respect of 304 and 306 of the IPC. Saying there is no fair investigations and the entire episode is politically motivated, Adv Desai said the injuries on the body of deceased Nadia were not spotted either at the Apollo Victor or Jupiter hospitals and wondered how the doctor from Chennai could give an opinion that the age of the injuries are of 12-16 days without examining the dead body. Admitted that deceased Nadia was Pacheco’s close and intimate friend, Adv Desai, however, sought to know how the former
5 mobile phones, 3 SIM cards attached HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 12
The Crime branch has attached five mobile phones and three SIM cards belonging to beleaguered former Tourism Minister, Mickky Pacheco since his arrest on Friday last. Making a submission in the Sessions court on Monday, Public Prosecutor Sarojini Sardinha said the mobile phones and SIM cards have been despatched for scientific investigations after their attachment. She submitted that the mobile phones and SIM cards were attached to obtain details of the calls made by the former Tourism minister between May 1-15 – the day when Nadia Torrado consumed Ratol. The public prosecutor said the items were sent to Hyderabad for urgent examination and submitted that the report is expected to come in very soon. She said that the investigating agency could not unearth much information from the former Minister, claiming that the accused has been evasive to the questions and made contradictory statements when confronted with certain facts relating to the case.
MMC chairperson foils water theft for vehicle washing HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 12
Margao Municipal Chairperson Savio Coutinho called the Margao police late Monday evening after some miscreants tried to cut open a water chamber to illegal tap water for vehicle washing. Margao PI Santosh Desai visited the spot after the Chairperson drew his attention to water theft taking place at the traffic island on the eastern side of the Municipal building. The MMC Chairperson said that the chamber was locked to prevent water thefts, but the miscreants came with a cutter to cut open the chamber lock. The sponsor, who renovated and maintains the traffic island, was also called by the Civic body and requested to lodge a complaint with the police to nab the culprits. Coutinho later told newsmen
Discriminated teachers threaten stir HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 12
The Discriminated Teachers Forum on Monday threatened to launch a agitation, starting with a morcha on July 19, if the government fails to pay heed to their impending demands. In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and the Education Minister Babush Monseratte the Forum has demanded immediate settlement of their demands. “We are facing genuine problems due top our premature and forceful retirement by the government at the age of 58 and we have made several representations to your office in this regard,” says the memorandum. However, the memorandum adds, “we are sorry to state that till date nothing concrete has been done by your government in the matter and therefore our members who are senior citizens are anguished, disillusioned and demoralized.” “It may be noted that our talukawise meetings have resolved en masse to restart the suspended agitation with mocha on July 19, at Porvorim inorder to press for the settlement of our just and genuine demands,” it says. The memorandum also says that the forum does not want to embarrass the government as the Goa Legislative assembly’s monsoon session starts on that day. “”If the government has any proposal to redress our grievances in the current Assembly Session or the next Teachers Day on September 5, you should convey it to us at the earliest so that we hold back our agitation,” the forum said in the memorandum to the CM and education minister.
Miscreants tried to cut open the lock of this chamber to commit water theft for vehicle washing which was foiled by the MMC Chairperson. Photo by Santosh Mirajkar
that water theft from the tap installed inside the traffic island is a regular phenomenon and demanded action against the miscreants. “Water theft from
the traffic island for vehicle washing is not uncommon in the city. It is high time the authorities crack a whip against the culprits”, he demanded.
Minister could be charged for killing her when he has spent Rs 40 lakh – as per estimates drawn by the crime branch – to save her life. Judge Deshpande sought to know from Adv Desai whether any circumstances have changed in the case since the rejection of Pacheco’s bail plea by Additional Sessions Judge V P Kamat last week.
Mickky’s counsel demands inquiry into Hospicio’s medical report HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 12
Fo r m e r M i n i s t e r, M i c k k y Pacheco’s legal counsel Adv Amit Palyekar has demanded an inquiry into the discrepancies noticed in the Hospicio’s medical report concerning the Benaulim MLA. Palyekar told newsmen after the hearing of Pacheco’s bail application that an inquiry should be conducted to find out who had overwritten on the medical report relating to the former Minister. ‘An inquiry is important to ascertain the people behind the decision to overwrite Pacecho’s blood pressure which was used by the prosecution in the court to raise doubts on the genuineness of the report”, he said. The demand for an inquiry assumes significance given that the Junior physician attached to Hospicio, Dr Iona Barretto has categorically denied that she has not overwritten Pacheco’s blood pressure report.
Hearing of TBA plea on Aug 9 HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 12
Final hearing on petition field by Taleigao Bachao Abhiyan (TBA) about a plot (open space) encroached upon by a private builder, has been fixed for hearing on August 9. According to the petitioner, the outline development plan of Taleigao village has shown it as open space earmarked for recreational use. The petition is clubbed with petition filed by Amit Juneja and Sudha Ladha raising the similar issue seeking directions to authorities to take action against the builder to forthwith stop the illegal and unauthorised construction and restore it to its original form. The petitions were listed for hearing before a Division Bench of Justices A S Oka and F M Reis on Monday along with Miscellenous Civil Application (MCA) moved by the petitioners. However, they did not press for hearing on the application as Court fixed the final hearing on August 9.
GC-MS system to help GSPCB in monitoring organic pollutants HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 12
The introduction of Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) system will now help the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to monitor the concentration level of organic pollutants in the environment in better way. The GC-MS system funded by the State government (Rs 44.57 lakh) was inaugurated on Monday at the hands of Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira. “With the commissioning of the new instrument, the monitoring capabilities of the board have increased. The
GSPCB laboratory can now test water quality for parameters like alkalinity, conductivity, oils and grease, carbon, nitrogen and others,” GSPCB c h a i r m a n S i m o n D’ S o u z a said. D’Souza said that the GC-MS instrument is a combination of two individual instruments-the Gas Chromatograph and the Mass Spectrometer, which has several limitations if used individually. “A combination of two makes it a powerful tool,” he added. The system has two libraries installed in it – NIST library containing details of 1,19,235 compounds and the pesticides
library containing details of 578 compounds. The chairman informed that the supplier of the instrument, M/s Toshwin, has provided inhouse training to the technical staff of the board on the working and maintenance of the instrument. Talking at the inaugural function, Sequeira said that with the commissioning of the new instrument, the work load has increased but the board needs to work it sincerely and apply their minds in protecting the environment. “The State government will provide full support whenever required,” he said.
GSPCB to have its own premises HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 12
Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) might soon have their own premises as per their requirements with State government conceding for all required support. Minister for Environment Aleixo Sequeira on Monday asked the board to appoint a consultant to design a building suitable for GSPCB functioning. “You go ahead with the proposal and appoint a consultant, who will design building as per your requirements. The government will provide full support,” Sequeira said. The assurance came after, GSPCB chairman Simon D’Souza pointed out the various difficulties the board has to face in carrying out day today activities in the absence of proper space. The chairman demanded setting up of separate building for the board, which would be designed as per their necessities. “The space presently being occupied (first and the fourth floor of Dempo Tower) is not suitable and not adequate to handle the various types of
the board, efficiently. It was not planned and built to our requirements,” D’Souza pointed out. Explaining the situation, he said that some of their staff members are forced to sit in small cubicles with space just sufficient to accommodate one small table and a chair. “We have several constraints in this place – there are objections from the commercial establishments operating from this building and the association of space occupiers against the storage of laboratory gases, chemicals, solvents etc,” chairman lamented. He also brought to the notice that GSPCB has no proper parking space as well as no space on the ground to set up an Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station. Earlier, Sequeira assured to look into the report on strengthening of the board, which is been forwarded to the government and the Central pollution control board for approval. The GSPCB in their 97 meeting had decided to strengthen their workforce by appointing more and qualified staff at different levels to perform the various functions.
Three held for assault on security guards at Collem
Stolen Bethany Convent trophies reduced to scrap
HERALD CORRESPONDENT COLLEM, JULY 12
Collem Police arrested three persons on charges of assaulting two security guards at a mine in Bimbal-Collem on Monday at about 12 noon. Collem Police have identified the accused as Chenappa Verappa Jadhav (25) from Dharwad-Karnataka, Mehaboob Nadaf (40) of Solapur-Maharashtra and Mantesh Gauda Patil (32) of Belgaum-Karnataka. According to Collem Police PI Manoj Mardolkar, the three accused, who are working as drivers at Bimbal mine, asked security guards Ramakant Suresh Gidaye (25) and Padmakar Pawar (24), both from Maharashtra, to open the main mine gate at about 7.30 pm on Sunday. Since the security guards did not open the main gate, the accused allegedly assaulted the security guards with glass bottles and belts. The security guards sustained grievous injuries. Later, the security guards lodged a compliant with Collem Police station. PI Mardolkar, Head Constable Ganpat Patil and other police personnel arrested the trio on Monday at about 12 noon. Collem Police arrested the trio under Section 452, 324, 504 and 506. The accused will be produced before Sanguem JMFC on Tuesday. HC Ganpat Patil is investigating the case under the supervision of PI Mardolkar.
The Maina-Curtorim police with damaged trophies and temple bells and the accused. Photo by Santosh Mirajkar HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 12
Just imagine when near twoand-half decade of hard work of students in the sporting arena is simply reduced to scrap. Indeed, dozens of trophies and shields won by students of Bethany Convent high school at the State and national level sporting events have been left damaged. Brass component of the trophies and shields won by this school in the village of Sao Jose de Areal was sold as scrap to a Vasco-based dealer after they were burgled by miscreants last week. No doubt, the Maina Curtorim police cracked the theft case with the arrest of an accused, Sanjay Rathod, but the recovery of the stolen items in damaged condition may not be good news
for many, when the trophies were won by the institute over the last 24 years by sheer hard work of the students. School headmistress, Sr Ida Lobo says the school will ask for the return of the trophies from the custody of the police and explore the possibility of restoring the shields to its original condition. “I have no personally seen the recovered items, but our PTA members, who were called to the police station have seen the items”, she said. Sr Ida, however, had a word of praise for the men-in-uniform manning the Maina Curtorim police station. “The police certainly deserves praise for achieving a breakthrough not only in solving our case, but for cracking the Cuncolim Temple burglary case. “Two of the Temple bur-
CDP: MMC directed to produce authentic copy of public notice
glaries in Cuncolim stands solved along with our case. The arrest of the accused may help in solving other such cases”, she added. Says Maina Curtorim Police station incharge, PI Sidhant Shirodkar: “The accused has damaged the trophies with a stone so that the brass component can be disposed to a scrap dealer. The management of Bethany School convent has said they will take possession of the damaged trophies”. The Maina Curtorim police have obtained a seven days police remand for accused Rathod. The police are also on the look out for Rathod’s accomplice to throw light on many cases of thefts, including thefts that have occurred in places of worship across the State.
‘Development’ has damaged Goa environment: Ramesh PTI BHOPAL, JULY 12
A man has a look at the City Development Plan for Margao. HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 12
The South Goa Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the Margao Municipal Council to produce the authentic copy of the public notice inviting suggestions and objections from the citizens on the controversial City Development Plan. The Forum passed the order following a petition filed by citybased NGO Bailancho Ekvott demanding transparency in the CDP. The Forum has also asked the Margao Civic body to submit a copy of the CDP for its perusal.
Beef or mutton? Row over meat at Margao HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 12
A row broke out in a city hotel on late Monday evening whether the meat consumed by the customers was beef or mutton. The controversy threatened to snowball into a law and order problem as a crowd assembled outside the hotel as allegations were levelled by customers that they were served beef when they had ordered mutton. The Margao police rushed to the hotel fearing that the issue might take communal colour by despatching jeeps load of policemen. The customers, who suspected that they were served beef in place of mutton, demanded action against the hotel owner. The hotel owner, sources said, maintained that the meat served to the complaining customers was indeed mutton and refuted allegations made by the latter. PSI Manguesh Naik, who was drafted to defuse any law and order problem said the matter was later resolved by the two parties. He said though the police deployed jeep loads of policemen,
The Forum has also sought for the copy of the requisition letter made by the Margao Municipal Council to the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation and their reply in respect of furnishing the lay out plan forming part of the City Development Plan. All these documents are required to be submitted to the Forum by the Civic body within two days. President of the South Goa Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Adv Jagdish Prabhudesai has directed the MMC Chief Officer to personally remain present during further hearing fixed
Photo by Santosh Mirajkar
on July 14 at 3 pm. The Margao Municipal Council was dragged to the Consumer Forum by Bailancho Ekvott President Auda Viegas for deficiency in service by not displaying the CDP in the civic body before inviting suggestions and objections. Incidentally, though the 15day period of inviting suggestions and objections expires on July 19, the Civic body has finally thought it fit to display the charts in the Municipality on Monday – seven days after the Civic body set in motion the process to invite suggestions and objections.
Development work had “inflicted the worst damage” to the environment and forests in Goa, Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh said in Bhopal on Friday. He was speaking to NGOs at the sixth public consultation organised about the Green Mission at the Indian Forest Management Institute in the Madhya Pradesh capital. However, he said, afforestation and re-greening should be taken up on a war footing to make up the loss. Ramesh lamented that he was facing criticism from his cabinet colleagues for allegedly blocking development projects. “I am being considered as ‘Ravana’ for development projects,” Ramesh lamented. Without naming anyone, the minister said he was being considered as a person putting obstacles in the way of development projects. “Our department is being shown as the enemy of development, which is not the case,” he said. In recent months, Ramesh has come under attack from Road Transport and Highways Minister Kamal Nath over construction of highways through forests in Madhya Pradesh, as well as Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel for “delay” in the environmental clearance of the Navi Mumbai airport.
Fomento returns draft Concession Agreement lawyer. Incidentally, it is not out of place to mention Fomento has finally returned the draft Concession here that Fomento had initially insisted that the Agreement for the consideration of the Margao Margao Civic body first sign the Concession Agreement with the company before commencMunicipal Council on Monday. Margao Municipal Chairperson Savio Coutinho ing work at the Sonsodo dump yard. Fomento, confirmed that the Civic body has finally received however, later agreed to the directions of the high powered committee headed the draft Concession Agreement by Chief Minister to commence prefrom Fomento – nearly three months Margao Municipal liminary work at the site. after the draft was taken by the com- Council Savio Meanwhile, Margao Municipal pany for perusal and to make further Coutinho said he drivers on Monday called on Chairsuggestions. person Savio Coutinho and comCoutinho said he would study the would study the plained of the deteriorating new points incorporated in the draft new points incoragreement by Fomento, and made porated in the draft approach road inside the garbage dumping site at Sonsodo. it clear that the agreement would agreement by FoA delegation of the drivers now be forwarded to the Municipal mento, and made it pointed out that the approach road lawyer for study and opinion. clear that the to the dumping site has turned un“The draft agreement was vetted motorable and has sunk due to the by the Municipal legal retainer be- agreement would monsoons. fore Fomento sought the draft for now be forwarded The drivers said that they will it its perusal. I will study to find out to the Municipal difficult to dump the waste inside whether they have made any lawyer for study the site and asked the Chairperson changes to the draft. The draft will and opinion. to take up the matter with Fonow be despatched to the legal remento. tainer for vetting”, Coutinho Coutinho assured the workers that he would added. Replying to a question, Coutinho said the draft remind Foment to repair the approach road, agreement will be placed before the Council saying garbage collection in the city is affected meeting only after it is vetted by the Municipal by the poor condition of the road. HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 12